What Is Entailed In Los Angeles Metalizing

By Mattie MacDonald


Matalizing is a wide term that encompasses all processes that involve application of metal material on non-metallic surfaces. Von Liebig, a german is responsible for making the discovery in the year 1835. History records that the first items to be produced using metalization were mirrors. Actually, Liebig made the discovery while trying to coat a glass surface with aluminum metal. In Los Angeles metalizing industry is a major job creator with far reaching applications.

The process is carried out in a vacuum chamber to avoid adding impurities into the metal coating. The system used for the process is made of many parts including spray torch, feeder, media supply, robot, power supply, and the control console. A single system may have several control consoles depending on its level of sophistication and size. Consoles sometimes come separately although they are integrated into the system in most cases.

The metal that forms the coat on objects is melted by the spray gun. Some metals have very high boiling and melting points hence the spray torch must reach those temperatures for the metals to vaporize. Temperatures are controlled using the control consoles. After melting the coating material, the gun accelerates them to the object to be deposited. Temperature of the spray torch is raised through resistance and plasma heating among other techniques.

Media supply is used to supply the fuel needed to produce the flame used in heating the spray torch. This is an optional feature in some models of metalization systems. The feeder is the component used to supply the wire, liquid, or powder used for coating. The material supplied is directed to the torch to be melted. Normally the feeder terminates on the outside for access by the system operator.

Robots refer to the circuitry used to manipulate torches and substrates. Substrates require to be turned for the coat to reach all parts effectively. Torches may also need to change the angle in which it delivers the coat. The torch is powered by a standalone power supply.

The substrate is prepared properly first before it is fed into the system. Once inside the feeder, the material goes straight to the spray torch to be vaporized. The torch applies heat on the wire until it reaches boiling point and vaporizes into fumes. The vaporized fumes take time in the air and but finally settle onto the surface of the substrate. Substrates should be placed directly beneath the torch for efficient results to be achieved.

Thickness of coatings is varied using the consoles. Generally, the thickness of the coatings grow as more fumes settle on a substrate. This implies that allowing more time for deposition forms thicker coats. Uniformly spread coatings are formed after the fumes settle and cool down.

This process finds application in many fields. Mainly, it is used in the production of coatings on structural materials. Such coatings are used as thermal barriers against high temperatures in various applications. Other main uses include protection against wear and tear, erosion, and corrosion. The aesthetic property of substrates is also improved a lot.




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